Stretching

There's a big question of when to do stretching. Before or after the exercise. According to bodyandsoul.com.au, both can be good. Unless of course, sitting on afolding Adirondack chair is your next activity.

By Wendi Carroll "First published: April 8th, 2012" More How to avoid a sporting injury Stretch during the ad break Top five stretches Stay injury free when training 5 ways stretching benefits your health The stretch debate When is the best time to stretch? At what point in your workout will stretching your muscles benefit you the most? Stretching offers many benefits: mobility, injury prevention and stress relief to name a few. But when exercising, is it better to stretch before or after? The answer is both. Before exercise you need to warm up and dynamic stretching can be combined as part of the warm-up. The goal is to get the blood flowing and raise your body temperature a little. It's important to have your muscles, ligaments and joints experience the functional range of motion required of your sport during the warm-up. Movements such as arm circles, torso twists and hip rotations are examples of dynamic stretches. After your workout, it's time for static stretching. This is the time to relax, wind down and improve flexibility. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds and stretch consistently to see results. Focus on breathing during the stretch, using each exhalation to go a little further. Yoga is one of the best ways to include stretching in your workout. If you don't know where to start with stretching, a personal trainer can work out a stretching plan that suits your needs. By Wendi Carroll, Fitness First instructor.

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